Valve for the sound-boxes of talking-machines.



C. K. SIMPSON.

VALVE FOR THE SOUND BOXES 0F TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909.

946,524, Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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CHARLES K. SIMPSON, OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EIGHTH TO A. P. MCDONALD, OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

VALVE FOR THE SOUND-BOXES 0F TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Application filed May 22,1909. Serial No. 497,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Honolulu, county of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for the Sound-Boxesof Talking-Machines; and I do hereby declare the'following to be afull, clear,

I same.

My invention relates to Sound-boxes for talking machines, which employcompressed air toprodu ce the sound, and particularly to theconstruction and action of the valve in such sound-boxes, through whichthe air is passed; and the objects of my improvements are, to increasethe sound and improve the tone produced, and to decreasethe' compressedair expended.

My invention relates particularly to and is an improvement in that classof soundboxes illustrated in the French patent, No.

372,225, dated Nov. 24, 1906, in which a gridiron valve is employed,operated by a stylus which travelsover the record. In

this type, each'bar ofthe gridiron valve exactly covers a slottedopening in the valve seat, when the valve is closed. The stylus infollowing the record lifts the valve from the seat and in a direction atright angles thereto, allowing air to .issue through the openings in theseat, in intermittent jets, their -character and frequency dependingupon the action of the stylus. One end of the valve, to which the stylusis removably attached, is mounted upon the seat in a manner such thatthe valve may be sprung from the seat by the action of the stylus infollowing the record; the valve in seating is guided by a pin in theseat passing through a hole or slot in the other end of the valve. Thelifting of the valve is aided by the air, and resisted by the mountingat the stylus end and by a cushion at the other end.

My invention contemplates changes in the construction and action of thevalve whereby much louder and more perfect tones are produced with theexpenditure of less air. The principal changes of construction are: inthe spring clamp, which flexibly secures the valve to the seat; in theshape of the guiding pin in the seat, against which the end of the valverests. the pin being tapered and" thy-edge of the valve correspondinglybeveled; and in the bars of the gridiron valve, one edge of each barbeing beveled. The action of the valve is thereby changed, as willhereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of'my improved gridiron valve.Fig. 2 represents a plan view of its valve seat.

Fig. 3 represents a section on the line AB of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detailof the cushion and its adjusting screw. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of amodification. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the sprin clamp. Fig. 7' is adiagram illustrating t e passing of the" air jets through an ordinarygridiron valve. Fig. 8 is a diagram. illustratingthe same through myimproved valve. Referring to the drawings; the valve seat.

plate 1 is rovided with the parallel slots 2, a

. dowel 3 or holding seat plate in place, and

a pin 4-having a hardened tapered point 4 the pin 4 being preferablyscrewed in said plate. A's'pring clamp 5 is attached to the seat plate 1by screws 6 in the holes 7 tapped in said plate. The spring clamp 5 ismade weakest in a plane parallelto the seat plate 1. The stylus holder8', which is'secured to the spring clamp 5, is provided with the screw 9for s'ecuri. the stylus in the usual -manner. The hol er 8 has a pin-end8,

which is clam ed by the set-screw 10 in the block '11. This block 11 issecured to the end 12 of the valve plate 12. The valve plate 12 isprovided with the bars l3, forming a gridiron type of valve, adaptedto'exactly cover the slots 2 in the seatplate- 1, when the valve isclosed and at rest. The edges 13* of the bars 13 are preferably beveledand of greatest width at the inner or lower face of the valve to permitof a freer exit for the air and a sharper cut-ofl", Figs. 1 and 8. Theend 12 of the valve plate 12 is notched, as shown in Fig.1, such thatthe beveled edge 14 engages thetaper 4 of the pin 4, and preferablyapproximately on' the cushion, which engages flie valve plate 12, ismade so as to clear the screw 16, to permit of a freer'movement of thevalve in following the taper 4 of the pin 4c when lifting.

The tapered pin and the cushion arrangeme'nt may, if desired, becombined, as shown in the modification, Fig. 5, in which the pin 4: isscrewed into the seat plate land is provided with the lock-nut 20, thetapered portion 4* forming a shoulder. The pin 4 is extended above thetapered portion 4 and threaded 4 'to receive the adjusting nut 21.

When 'the valve lifts at right angles to theseat, as hasheretoforebeen'the practice, air is permitted to escape through the slots .intheseat and pass between the bars of the valve,-fthe jets meeting asindicated by arrows in Fig. 7. With my improvements, however, the valveplate 12 in 'lifting from the seat plate 1, does not move at rightangles to said plate, but moves away from the seat in a direction to theleft hand in reference to the view of the valve shown in Fig. 1, beingguided by the shape of the edge 14 which engages the taper 4* of the pin4. This provides freer passages for the jets of air, as will be notedbyreference to Fig. 8.

,the valve laterally as it lifts.

2. In a sound box valve, a'lifting valve, a stylus holder carriedthereby, a valve seat,

and means to guide the valve laterally with respect to the seat duringthe lifting movement of the valve. 1

3. The combination with a valvefbr a sound box, and a seat for-thevalve, of a tapered guide member for the valve which causes it to shiftlaterally'jdu'ring its lifting m 'ovement. Y I 1. 111' a sound boxvalve, a valve seat, a valve, a stylus holder carried by the valve, anda tapered guide pin on the seat'which moves the valvelaterally as itrises from the seat.

5. In a sound box valve, .a valve seat, a

tapered guide pin carried thereby, a valve having a beveled edgeengaging said' pin, and a stylus holder mounted on the valve. 6. In asound-box valve, a valve seat, and agridiron valve, each bar of saidvalve being beveled at one edge and of greatest width at the inner orlower face of the valve. 7. A sound-box valve having a plurality ofparallel bars, one edgeof each bar being straight and the other edgebeveled, for the purpose described. i

8. In a soundbox'valv e, the comblnation of a valve seat, a gridlronvalve, a screw 16 for adjusting the parts, and a cushion 19, ,the end ofwhich clears said screw, as described.

9. Ina sound-box valve, a valve seat comprising a seat plate 1,avalve'plate 12 having abeveled edge 14, and a ide pin 4 against whichbeveled edge 14 a uts.

In'testimony whereof I afli; my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

I CHARLES K. SIMPSON.

Witnesses: if

A. P. MoDonanm. Roms "J. PRATT.

